Ok, so the tail end of 2014 kicked my creative butt.
You know how it goes: the bills roll in, the car breaks down, the kids need jail bonds, and you find that 9-5 job turns into 6-8.
But 2015 is a year to punch all that in the face. I'm looking at entering a new decade and by golly I think I'm a big boy now. Big enough to make a schedule that fits my wild and crazy creative exploits nicely alongside my worky-work money-making exploits.
(Work has been really good. My wife, looking over our bank account, asked me recently whether I had started cooking meth in the home office. "No," I said, "I just was really darn productive and got some new clients." Looking back I should have told her I'd become a professional bear wrestler.)
So, 2015. Let's do this.
To start this thing off right, we must look to an inspiring hero to really set the tone of butt-kicking to follow.
[Chiral Mad 2] opens with “Another Man’s Bones” by Mason Ian Bundschuh. The perfect piece to motivate the reader to hungrily devour the remaining 27 stories. The storyline is not only unique, but delivers the creep factor. In doing so, Bundschuh baffles and eludes, until you reach that final well-structured sentence. This essentially is a story of one man’s quest to eliminate the ultimate foe. He is a writer this reviewer recommends you seek out beyond this anthology. What a treat, dear readers!
My short story "Another Man's Bones" opens up the collection (a big honor for me)
I know I've mentioned it before, but the people I share the table of contents (TOC) with are AWESOME.
Some serious luminaries and all-around great people.
One aspect of this publication which may be of interest to other hungry writers out there: my story had been rejected by dozens of other markets before being accepted. I had several really positive personal rejections, but all rejections nonetheless.
I knew the story was solid. This isn't just vanity, I can tell when I write a stinker (usually after a few days of perspective). This story I knew was good. And I'd also put it through the wringer of my writer's group (The Illiterati) and it got their stamp of approval.
Point being, if you've got a story you believe in, keep submitting it! Every editor is looking for something different. Eventually you'll find a home for it.
The key word of the day is PERSISTENCE.
For us writers, with our perennial vacillation between soaring ego and crushing self-doubt, it is persistence and plain-old dogged cussedness that drags us through.
I’m pretty stoked. Last month I entered 2 flash fiction
contests and won both of them. In fact, I've won 3 out of the 5 flash fiction
contests I've ever entered (the KillerCon Creative Fiction Contest in 2012, and
the Vegas Valley Book Fest Flash Fiction Contest in 2010 and 2012).
(self aggrandizement alert!)
If you don’t know, flash fiction is a short short story,
usually under 1000 words in length, sometimes under 500. They are stories that
get in, do their story magic, and get out. They even have micro fiction which is roughly around tweet size.
(my own example):
She watched the dinner guests leave. They never asked where Greg was and she of course didn’t show them the blood and mess in the kitchen.
So naturally Flash Fiction Contests are when a group of caffeine-hazed
writers are given a prompt and a short amount of time (20 minutes at KillerCon,
90 minutes at Vegas Valley Book Fest). When the buzzer goes off, you stop
writing, just like a test, and then you are at the mercy of the judges.
But let’s get back to me winning. (I need to start that #arrogant
twitter hashtag Mercedes[[[]]] and I joke about…)
I thought to myself, “Self,” I says, “You seem to be awesome at
these things. Do you have any super-duper tips for winning?”
Well, nothing super-duper. In truth, I’d say 60% of winning
at flash fiction is how far you can take your imagination and writing chops. And 20% is being able
to perform under deadline. Perform coherently, I might add.
Almost all of that falls under the same writing advice you can find
anywhere. (No really, most other people give way more useful writing advice
than me, because I don’t really know how I do it…)
But that last little 10% leaves room for a few handy tips
and tricks. Nothing fancy, mind you, but this is how I do it and maybe it will
work for you. (Or at least free you up to just charge blindly ahead!)
Tip #1: Write the most compelling first line you can think of,
right off the top of your head. Then come up with the story behind it.
Don’t construct an elaborate plot. Don’t try to focus on the
theme, because by simply hearing it and stewing on it while waiting for someone
to shout “Go” the theme is already part of your consciousness.
Make that first line sing. Don't worry about where the story
will go. Just write something that can't be ignored.
Mine was "The hardest part was not killing the kids,
but cutting them up to fit in the furnace."
Where it came from, I don't know, but it had to be answered. I had
to find out what happened next, thus I had to write it.
Tip #2: Don’t cheat and show up at the contest with a full
plot or story you already wrote in your head, or worse, already wrote which you
will try to recreate.
Don't do this.
It not only smells like cheating but it can backfire on you.
Particularly with themes and/or key words or phrases you must use in the story.
The elaborate western romance you cooked up will get hosed when the key phrase
they give you is "The spaceship docked on the dark side of the moon."
Hosed!
(Unless you’re Joss Whedon, in which case, carry on.)
Speaking of key words and phrases, "How do you deal
with any key words, or phrases they make you put into the story?" (you
ask) “How do you place a word like ‘zither’ and ‘mongoose’ in a space-cowboy
drama?” (you ask so many questions)
Tip #3: Love words.
Love words, love how words sound, love language so deeply that you don’t just cram in obtrusive words like ‘chartreuse’
with a wink at the audience. Actually use them.
I read the dictionary for fun. I have this giant unabridged
one that I like to turn to random pages (it also makes a great kid booster
seat!) Words are your fundamental tools, even the awkward words.
What if you don’t know the meaning of the word? Ask. You
might feel like a goober asking what a zither is, but
you'll feel like a Hefty-bag of shame when you write it into your steamy
romance mistakenly thinking it means a clothes fastening device.
Allow me to introduce you to my other band: Aurea Verba
Eric, Mason, Eli, Matt
See, that's me over there with a pained rock star look on my face. In my opinion, a constipated or wounded pout is the only real face one can make for band photos.
But I digress.
My other band is quite fun to be in. For starters I have too much music in my body to get it all out with just one band. So I need at least two full time bands with several other pick-up gigs thrown in on the side.
It's kind of like writing. I can't just write in one genre, nor am I content with just writing a few stories or novels "and then I'll be done." I'll never be done, I'll always create.
Do thousands upon thousands of people come to our shows? No (unless they are invisible, in which case I am kinda creeped out). But does that mean that somehow it's not worth it?
We do what we love doing because we love doing it--no, we NEED to do it. I can't help being creative, I couldn't stop myself from being creative.
So why would I ever let myself mope and have those useless thoughts of "not being really successful"?
Hot diggety-dawg, I put my pen onto a blank page and a story comes out. I put my fingers onto a contraption made of steel and rosewood and music happens!
That's the fountainhead of it all. I don't need adulation or hordes of fans (though it'd be nice, sometimes), I just need to keep creating.
So I leave you with a music video as I go off and get some writing done. Or maybe I'll go play some guitar...
But if you ever find yourself sitting around waiting for inspiration, here's a little tip: you'll do more waiting than
writing.
Which brings me to the first myth about creativity: Waiting for inspiration to strike.
Waiting for inspiration to strike is a little like waiting for lightning to strike.
Sure it happens--but if you want to make it as a professional writer you can't bank on waiting for it.
Boy, when inspiration strikes, all bets are off. Pen goes to paper and you feel as if you've touched live electric wire. (or fingers go to keyboards, or paintbrush to canvas, or hands to guitar neck... you get the idea)
But what about all the other days when inspiration seems far away?
One trick you hear about is to seek out things that inspire you. Sure, this works sometimes. There's nothing wrong with trying to induce creativity by shaking things up or listening to Sigur Ros or Florence + the Machine. You don't wait in one spot for lightning to strike. You go out and chase storms.
But, there is something deeper than just scouring Youtube for creative videos to spark your imagination (besides, time spent online is time spent NOT writing).
Why not make inspiration a habit?
"What do you mean, Mason? What is this secret of which you speak?"
Ok, so no real secret. Making writing a habit makes inspiration a habit.
As you learn to express yourself more clearly, with less affectation or bad writing habits, the easier it is for any glimmer of inspiration to be seized and nurtured and developed.
You become a clearer conduit for your muse. You learn to fan into flame that little spark, instead of stifling it.
I love my critique group (The infamous Illiterati) because they always tell me when I'm clouding up the waters. And they challenge me to go farther, deeper, and swim in dangerous waters where inspiration lurks like a sea serpent coiling just under the surface.
But let me make one thing clear: You have to be able to write under duress.
Life doesn't slow down. Life doesn't pause or go on vacation for you to write.
You do it in spite of life sometimes.
Anyone who has children under 5 and who's written anything coherent recently can attest to that.
But now let's hear from you.
What things inspire you? Music, videos, blogs, people, thingamabobs?
~mason
So to spark some inspiration here's Florence + the Machine tearing your face off under extreme duress (outdoor festivals, electric instruments and rain = no bueno)
So, my posts have been sparse lately, forgive me. I've been crazy busy.
I know I meant to share more info on my adventures as a ghostwriter, but MORE has happened!
A few of you might have heard of the SOUL SURFER movie coming out about Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer girl who was mauled by a shark, lost her arm, and not only returned to surfing, but became a champion surfer.
Well,
See, my dad's name right there in small letters!
I got a chance to work with my dad on the book "Raising a Soul Surfer" which he wrote with Bethany's mother, Cheri Hamilton. (Actually, my dad is the "with", it's Cheri's book)
It's a movie tie-in book. An "Inspirational Autobiography."
And I got to earn some industry cred... or maybe crud... by helping my dad to crank out the manuscript in record time. I edited, fact-checked, and occasionally rewrote chapters at Cheri's and my dad's direction.
It wasn't quite as legendary of ghostwriting 50k words in 50 hours, but it was close! haha.
Also it was an interesting glimpse into the professional world of writing.
Those of us who write take for granted that the written word is our milieu. Words are our spirit's limbs, moving them, arranging them, crafting them to convey and emote.
We forget that many many people who can communicate in person, on screen, etc, etc, etc, aren't as comfortable with words. They can say it, speak it to huge crowds with passion and clarity, but when they sit down to write a book it just doesn't come across like they want.
I suppose it's like people who are photogenic, and those who look normal until you take a picture of them and they seem to look goofy no matter what.
Or like otherwise accomplished people who can't sing in tune even with training. (I've met these people, they baffle me!)
It has been exciting to help a woman who has a pretty amazing story share it with the world...
But MAN it was a lot of work. I had to sort through a half dozen insertions and notes and possible scenes--and the deadline was like a bear gnawing on my shoulder.
It was new realms of intensity, frustration, and validation.
Sending it off to the editor on the last day before DEADline felt sooooo good.
Now I can actually spend time wroking on my book! sheesh. :)
So doing this ghostwriting has really opened my eyes to pounding out the word count.
I've always looked for tricks and tips to help motivate me to write constantly, instead of just when the inspiration strikes. (Bradbury likens it to leaning out of a belltower gripping a lightning rod and screaming for the storms to come.)
Now let me just point out that there is a difference between having goals and being motivated.
One trick on the goal side is to set a word count goal. Every day you must hit 2000 words at the very least.
That's a pretty good goal, IMO. It's helped me churn through.
But, we can set goals for ourselves all day long and still get nothing done.
So what actually MOTIVATES you to write?
Well, I learned an interesting thing that may very well be a no-brainer: Money was a pretty darn good motivator.
When cold hard cash was dangled in front of my eyes, I wrote. And I wrote fast. And I wrote pretty darn good. (Did I mention I'm the humblest guy I know?)
How motivated was I?
I wrote 51K words in 52 hours spread out over one month.
Looking back it doesn't seem like that really was possible... but there it is, when i tally my hours (which i had to log) I spent 52 hours (stolen in 1-4 hour increments--sometimes several writing spots a day) and in effect wrote a thousand words per hour.
My keyboard is a little raggen now.
I won't lie. Sometimes I stared blankly at the screen. But the proof is in the pudding and the delivered manuscript stands currently at 51,357 words.
So folks, what motivates you? Figure that out, and make it happen.
Is it chocolate? Because i can come to your house and withhold chocolate from you (and eat is slowly in front of you) until you hit your daily word goal. I can do that. No really, I'd like to do that.
Is it money? Well, if you're a writer that dream will be nice and crushed soon enough...
Is it the burning need to say something into the void?
Hello people in the blogosphere, it’s been awhile since my last post and I’m here to tell you why.
I’ve been writing. Writing like a super-star.
And while I wish I could say I’ve been working on my WIP, I actually have not touched it in more than a month.
“Boo,” you say, “Boo mason, why aren’t you working on your book?”
Well boo is right. I’ve actually been at something I’ve never done before: I’m ghostwriting a book.
I really can’t give you details on the book, but let me tell you fellow writers, ghostwriting is a strange and wonderful process. It is also hard work, and the deadline is tight. I put in anywhere from 4 to 8 hours a day writing and that is on top of my two other jobs.
But writing this project has given me all sorts of new insights into writing—in particular I’ve gained insights into the nature of procrastination and earned some secrets to writing on-demand instead of waiting for the ole muse to show up.
It’s taught me tons about working with deadlines breathing down your neck, about writing in a voice that isn’t really what I consider “mine”, and taught me that to be a writer you have to be able to suck it up and put in the time.
Stay tuned for some interesting stories from my adventures in ghostwriting… when I come up for air, that is.
This falls under the tag: "Stop Procrastinating Dude"
Ok, allow me to do a few laps as a chicken with no head. This has been a crazy few weeks.
I've got two kids under 3 bouncing off the walls, a house that looks as if a tornado localized in each room, people asking me to book shows for them. I have a reading to perform this weekend and I've got to organize my back-up dancers and pyrotechnics. Not to mention the writing gigs are flying my way faster than I can juggle them: from my day job (freelance technical writer), to possible journalistic endeavors, to contests, planning committee invites. And the band needs to practice for our upcoming shows, I have to find a babysitter, I've got a few recording sessions coming up, I'm trying to remember if I invoiced for the last one...
It's all enough to make a slacker like me turn to the Playstation for a coupla hours of veg time.
But NO! I'm the one who wants to pile my plate up high. Life's meant to be lived to the fullest!
Slackers don't win. Heck, they don't even finish!
So enough complaining. I'm jumping back in with both feet. Next time you hear from me it should be about the things I've accomplished!
Writing is a committment. Heck, living is a committment. You can't just quit. (Well, you could, but I don't reccommend it.)
We are writers because we write, not because we dream about writing, or tweet about writing, or blog about writing. So time to stop procrastinating and get back to the grist mill. Time waits for no man, unless that man is sucked into a gravitational anomaly... that's different.
But if I ever hear someone complain about how they don't have any time to write I'll smack them with this blog post by the estimable Mercedes M. Yardley.
For those of you wondering why Mercedes and I are always talking each other up (or talking smack) it's because we both belong to the Super Secret Order of Interdimensional Wombats, also known as The Illiterati. It's a critique group, it's a writers' group, it's a superhero convention.
If you've not found a few like-minded writers to meet up with (IRL or online) you need to get on that. If you want help or have questions, or just want to vent about some of the crazy critique group stories you have, please drop me a line!
Most of you know that November is National Novel Writing Month. (Can I get a holla from my NaNoWriMo peeps?) The main gist is to provide a kick in the proverbial seat and write a 50k (or more) novel from scratch during the month of November.
Awesome! Anything to get writers to write = wunderbar. It’s the hardest part. I’ve heard professional estimopinions that 90% of people who claim to be writers never finish a novel. Yuck!
So if NaNoWriMo is what it takes, by all means be a Nanite.
But I’m gonna be blunt here. Don’t wait for NaNoWriMo to write.
It’s not cheating to write the rest of the year. I promise. Heck, it’s not cheating to have written 6000 words of your novel from here to November. (Just make sure you hit 50k words written DURING the month to make NaNoFame)
So, enough blogging and twittering about how excited you are for NaNoWriMo, start writing… NOW!
Seriously. Open Word and start. Dude, why are you still reading this blog?
I'll let you look at that picture a moment longer.
Yes, I was responsible for that. These are the sorts of antics we get up to at our writers group.
The Illiterati, if you're not one of us, you've never experienced... well... just look at that photo again.
Anyhow, I'm an instigator. But more than that, I've discovered that I'm a motivator. I want to see people live their dream of becoming a writer. It excites me when I talk to other writers.
One of the things I'm always getting crazy-eyed about is: "If you want to be a writer, you've gotta write."
Sounds simple, but I can't tell you how many people I've heard say something along the lines of: "Oh, I'm a writer too, but I don't really have time to write. I used to write in high school, and my mom says it was really good. I'm just waiting until I have more time. I've been working on this novel for 10 years now. I've got a few chapters kinda done."
Among all of this I want to ask them how they have the audacity to call themselves writers.
See, writers write. NOW. Not, they used to write. Not they're thinking of writing, or telling everyone on Twitter or facebook that they write. THEY WRITE. Nothing can stop them from writing. They'd use a sharpened toothbrush and their blood for ink if they had to.
We're not talking about literary merit. That's something for the critics to argue. We're just saying, writers write. It may be dross, it may be plotless and full of Mary Sue characters, but it's been written!
*ahem. I just caught myself ranting. See? There's the proof of my crazy-eyed passion about motivating people to write.
So it was a fun treat to have my craziness quoted over at "Musings of a Scattered Mind" a blog by new friend and self-described geek chick going by the Twitter handle: Asheyna.
Let me finish by saying this: Writers write. They can talk about writing, blog about it, dream about it, and twitter about it. But they also do it.
If ever you find yourself doing more talking, blogging, dreaming or twittering about writing than actual writing, you might want to consider how serious you are about being a writer.
Also you can never ever ever complain about not having the time to write. I bet some of you would weep and gnash your teeth if you compared word-count between twitter and your WIP, or blogging and your still-unfinish-novel.
Do I walk the walk?
Heck yeah, once I click submit I'm turning off the internet and writing. Booyah!
